Do topical corticosteroids modulate skin irritation in human beings? Assessment by transepidermal water loss and visual scoring.

The efficacy of topically applied corticosteroid formulations of different potencies on irritant skin reactions was assessed in human beings. Chronic irritant contact dermatitis was produced by repeated application of a low-molarity sodium lauryl sulfate solution. Neither corticoid nor vehicle inhibited visible response to the irritant. Barrier function, as measured by transepidermal water loss, was impaired. The corticoid formulations and the vehicles did not significantly influence barrier function. These data raise the question of the value of certain topical corticoids and vehicles in chronic irritant contact dermatitis when the irritant is not removed.